the defense secretary. you think that he's -- is lou going to be playing some kind of a role whereby he's going to be able to let obama become more of a negotiator? i think that's one of lou's strengths, that he does know congress and that this will help obama in e two. malice in mali. this afternoon french armed forces lend supports to units of the maliian army to fight against terrorists. the operation will last as long as needed. last friday france invoked united nations security council resolutions and then intervened in the civil war raging in the north african country of mali. the u.n. resolutions call for quote, unquote rapid deployment of foreign troops and was passed after islamist rebels in the country's northern sector launched a military assault on southern mali in a bid to take over the country. the rebel forces include al qaeda and the islamist abbreviated to aqim. it established itself in mali following the overthrow of moammar qaddafi, libya's strong man. aqim has established strict islamist